Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-01-13
sfoas she Neao York World

lasr knowledge. The anxieties and fore
bdipgs and absolute agony of the future
Presideat, on the eve of marriage, the
most 1u'redulous might say, presaged the
destiny that impended. For no one knows
the character of Abraham Lincoln, his
gOdlike patience, his ineffable sweetness,
bis trauscendent charity amid all the tre-
mendous worries of war and revolution
and public affairs, VINO is ignorant of what
be endured of private woe, and no one
rightly judges the unfortunate partner of
his elevation and unwilling cause of
many OF his miseries, VINO fOrgets that
she mad "eaten on the insane root that
takes the reason prisoner"
The country knows, but has preferred
TO forget, the strangeness of Mrs. Lin
colE 3 conduct at intervals after her hus-
bands death. Many OF the most extra
ordinary incidents in her career were not
revealed, out OF delicacy to others and
tenderness to one who had been the sharer
of Abraham Lincoln's fortunes, and the
mC.her OF his family; but enough was
APPARENT TO shock aad pain the public
sense, when finally the conflict with ner
owl son, so highly respected, the drag
gjug OF their affairs into a public court,
The necessary supervision of the poor
1bdy's finances and restraint of her &C
uos, II not of her person, disclosed the
fbct that her mind had been diseased.
Al FAMILY's SAD SECRET.
| This threw light on circumstances
mil then ineXplicable. 1t relieved Mrs.
lncoln herself from the charge of heart
Rsness, OF mercenary behavior, of H.
iference to Der husbands happiness; it
approved the action of the son which. in
tOme quarters, had been gravely misun-
erstood, and, above all, it showed the
$ufering Abraham Lincoln must have ell
tured all through those years in which
be bore the burden of a struggling nation
tpon his hOulders-whether he knew or
blly feared the truth or whether be went
p calmly IN the sad thought that his
saddest forebodings before the marriage
we're fulfilled.
The first time that | saw Mrs. Lincoln
was when | accompanied Mrs. Grant to
the White House, for her first visit there
b the wife OF the General-in-Chief. The
bext that | now recall was in March,
pS4, when Mrs. LincOl with the Presi-
Dent, visited City Point. They went on a
Steamer, escorted by naval vessel of
which Capt. John S. Barnes was in COM
hand, and remained for some weeks in
/ he headquarters were established. Here
lhey slept and usually took their meals,
put sometimes both assembled the hill and
were entertained at the mess of Gen.
Irant.
On March 26 distinguished party
from Washington Joined them, among
Whom L remember especially Mr.. Geot-
{rOi, the French Minister. 1t was pro-
posed that an excursion should be made
10 the front OF the Army OF the Potomac,
a5Out ten or twelve miles away, and Mrs,
Lincoln and Mrs. Grant were of the CON-
pany. There was a military railroad
which took the illustrious guests a great
portion of the way, and then the men
were mounted, but Mrs. Grant and Mrs.
Lincoln went on 10 an ambulance, as It
was called-a sort of half open carriage
with two seats besides that for the driver.
j was detailed to escort them, and of
course sat on the front seat facing the
ladies', with my back to the horses.
MRS. LINCoLN's EXTRAORDINARY JEAL-
OUSY.
In the course of CONVEX sation [ men,
toned that all the wives of officers at the
army front had been ordered to the rear
a sure sign that active operations were in
cOntem platiOn. | said not lady bad
been allowed TO remain, except Mrs. Grit
In, the wife of Gen. Charles Griffin, who
had obtained a special perm ssion from
the President. At this Mrs. Lincoln was
up in arms. "Wnat do you mean by that,
N.Y. she exclaimed. DO you mean to
~ that she saw the President alone? Do
! u know that ] never allow the Presi-
- bot to see any woman alOnep' She was
@bsOlutely jealous OF poor, ugly Abraham
ncoln. | tried to Dacify her and to
"a lliate my remark, but she was ialrly
bling over with rage. THAT'S very
81 uiyOcal smile, SIR" she exclaimed.
n let me out of this carriage at
|&at woman alone. Mrs, Griffin was one
N the best known and most elegant
omen in Washington. afterward the
8untess Esterhazy, a Carroll and per-
Donal acquaintance of Mrs. Grant, who
rove to mOllify the excited spouse, but
M vain. Mrs. Lincoln again babe me stop
Tie driver, and wnen L hesitated to obey
ne thrust her arms past me to the front
o. the carriage and held the driver fast.
HI Mrs. Grant finally prevailed on her
a wait till the whole party Rlignted, ana
Men Gen. Meade came up TO pay his re
lpects to the wife OF the President. L had
blended to offer Mrs. Lincoln my arm
ND endeavor to prevent a scene. but
sie hit to escort her, and | mad no chance
b arm him. j saw them go of together.
= d remained in fear and trent bling tor
hat might occur in the presence or the
Dfeign Minister aud other important
Dangers.
ANoCCAsIoN FOR DIPLOMACY.
<But. Gen. Meade was very adrOlt, and
&hen they returned Mrs. Lincoln looked
Il me Significantly and SAID: Gen.
Me ade is a gentleman, sir. lie says it
vas not the President who gave Mrs.
griffin the permit, but the Secretary OF
VAR" Meade was the son OF diplomat
S, and had evidently Inherited some Of
lis ather's skill.
At night. when we were back in camp,
iirs. Grant talked over the matter with
me- and said the whole affair was 80 dis
ressing and mortifying that we must |
lover either mention it TO any one; at |
east, | was TO he absolutely silent, and
he would disclose II only to the General. |
ilt the next day | was released from my !
hedge, for "wOrse remained behind"
The same party went in the morning to |
'isit the Army Of the james on the north !
ide Of the river, commanded by Gen. !
Ord. The arrangements were somewhat |
imilar to those OF the day before. We I
vent up the river in steamer, aud then |
be men again took horses and Mrs. LIN |
ola and Mrs. Grant went IN an amou-
ance. | was detailed as before to act AS |
scort, hut asked Tor companion In the |
uiy; for after my experience OF the pre- |
lOus day did not WISH TO DO the only !
fiiCer In the carriage. 50 Gen. Horace |
'urter was ordered TO Join the party. |
4 sfs. har A.